Falcons Rattle Their Bats

The North Central Missouri Falcons American Legion baseball team hosted the Trenton AAA team last week at Bucklin High School. The Falcons gave their local fans a show, as the resulting contest was not short on scoring action.

The North Central Missouri Falcons American Legion baseball team hosted the Trenton AAA team last week at Bucklin High School. The Falcons gave their local fans a show, as the resulting contest was not short on scoring action.

Trenton went down in order in the top of the first. Gage Maxwell began the home half of the inning with a single, and stole second base. Drake Menconi reached on a Fielder’s Choice, while Maxwell got caught in a rundown. During the rundown, though, Menconi reached second base. Kolten Linscott brought Menconi home, to pop the cork on the scoreboard for the evening. David Keller singled, advancing Linscott, but both ended the frame stranded. After one inning, the Falcons led 1-0.

Trenton sent six batters to the plate in the top of the second, scoring two runs to take the lead. Pitcher Dane Robertson earned one strikeout in the frame. Mason Gardner led off the bottom of the inning with a single, and took second on a passed ball. Castor Dodd walked to put two on for the Falcons. Gardner advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a double from Maxwell. This play also sent Dodd to third base. Robertson singled, scoring Dodd, and Maxwell was tagged out in a close play at the plate. This allowed Robertson to head to second base. Menconi brought home Robertson with a single, but was tagged out to end the inning, working to stretch his hit to a double. After two innings, the Falcons led 4-2.

Trenton sent seven to bat in the top of the third, scoring three runs. Keller reached on an error in the top of the third, and Ryan Kearns made it on base due to a Fielder’s Choice, while Keller was tagged out. After three innings, the Falcons trailed 5-4.

Trenton went down in order in the top of the fourth, with Robertson earning another strikeout. Mitchell McKenzie doubled with one out for the Falcons, and took third on the throw in. Maxwell reached on a Fielder’s Choice, while McKenzie beat out the throw home to score. Maxwell would take second on a throwing error on a pick-off, and headed to third during a ground out. Menconi singled to bring Maxwell home, giving the Falcons back the lead. A pair of wild throws would send Menconi to third, where he would end the inning stranded. After four innings, the Falcons led 6-5.

Trenton sent six batters to the plate in the fifth, scoring one run, and tying the game. In the home half of the frame, Kearns hit a solo homerun to center field. After five innings, the Falcons led 7-6.

Trenton took control in the top of the sixth, sending 10 batters to the plate, and scoring six runs. Robertson and Menconi singled with two outs in the bottom of the inning, and both moved to scoring position on a wild pitch. Linscott would join them to load the bases after a walk. However, the trio would end the inning stranded. After six innings were in the books, the Falcons trailed 12-7.

Page 2 of 2 - Trenton would send four to bat in the final inning, but would make little noise offensively. The Falcons ended the game by going down in order. It is worth noting that Ty Stillwell, a Linn County R-1 graduate, was the closing pitcher for Trenton in the seventh inning. The Falcons lost this game by a final score of 12-7.